Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-21
ROSSIsN IN POLITICS.
Can Reform be Effected Within the Par
tfes?-Remedies Suggested. $SzE
PLYMOUTH, April 16, 1887.


EDS. RECORD UNION: In your issue of
the 9th inst. you produce an article on
q bossism in politics, and, give briefly the
views of David Dudley Field on the same
subject. OF course such productions are
open to criticism by the humblest citizen
as we'll as journalists, and men of rank
of first or second order. At first
desire to say that the UNION, as well as Mr.
Field and others, are deserving of unusual
credit for seeing or recognizing that bossism
(corruption) in politics is dangerous enc
my to the very existence OF American lib
erty. The outside world had just begun to
believe that party organs as well as party
men had sunken so deep in the political
mire of our country that they regarded
"bossism as necessary part of their ex-
istence.
We know there are political reformers of
our day, but did not suppose that there
was man in either of the great political
parties" who did not care to cut his own
political throat who would dare to cry
tDown with bossisml' And there is not
a prominent politician in either party to-
day who stands high enough in his party
to see over three counties who will contend
for political reform within his party, and
adhere to such contention with the tenacity
that George clings to his theories. for fear
of political death, and this same fear makes
political towards, and here is where the
shoe pinches." Even the RECORD UNION
dare not pursue the thoughts advanced in
the article alluded to, wherein il says his
indictment Of bossism is of the highest
value" If it did, the iron heel of bossism
would be placed on It's throat in manner
as to kill it long ere it would see one boss
laid on the shelf. Well may Mr.. Field say,
- If not changed, it will end in catastro-
phh" And say you:
But il will be changed the system OF
self-government in America is not to fail.
Its destiny will not be worked out until il
has demonstrated its capacity for purity.
But there must be change as Mr.. Field
saws. and this will come when the moral
sense of the people has so quickened that
bossism of every degree is wholly and ut
terly odious in the eyes of the electors"
Its capacity for purity is great, very
great but will never be demonstrated OF
itself. 1t must be demonstrated by the
purity of the people to be led by the unan-
imous effort of the press OF the country
and how is this to be when these very
bosses boss the press? How is the moral
sense of the people to be quickened unless
the leading journals of the day come up
out of the degraded political ruth which
it has run and lived for a score Of years
wherein it has Matched the very rottenness
it now complains of, and turn upon this
enemy to civil government, and help Kill
it, regardless of what political party will
be injured thereby, and bring about this
moral sense?
But you journalists, who claim to lead
the people and represent party, will
never do this. Why? Because it will
hurt your party" For instance, if the
RECORD UNION knew, by its influence in
one years time, it could eradicate this evil
in the State, and knew also that by so do
ing it would kill the Republican party in
| the State, would ii do it? No, indeed fal
| from it. The same is true of the Examiner
or any party paper. Party subserviency is
to-day the foundation of all political cor.
ruption. Anything or any way to get in
power is the rule with both parties, and the
very men who howl reform are as deep in
the mud as others are in the mire.
For instance, again, the RECORD UNION
as quoted above, says, this corrupt system
will be changed" etc., and then out
comes several issues of the same paper
without another word on the subject, and
will, beyond doubt. continue until the
change has been brought about by othel
hands. and then they will say, See the
bear Sal and killed" How in the WORLD
does the RECORD UNION or Mr.. Field expect
to cut down a tree of national evil by lay
ing the ak at the foot of the tree and march
ing in another direction whistling Yankee
Doodle"
You say: 4" Exceptin municipal and edu.
cational administration, party is necessary
and reform must begin within it and should
have all such aid from the State as can bt
afforded" The people are the State anC
compose the parties, and there is no State
outside of the people to give aid the aiG
must be given by they who compose thu
parties, by their determination to have re
form. But the political party that resolves
on reform is condemned as soon as it make!
such a resolution, and defeated by tn,
bosses of the opposite party by swinging
| the purchasable class over to them, anC
herein lies the seat of political corruption
There is a low, vicious class that make
| up the tail and balance of power in the pol
| itics of our country to-day that can b,
| herded to the polls like so many sheep
and care no more for American liberty o.
American prosperity or institutions than
care to be an angel in hell. In your dis
patches of the 2lst inst. we read of {
bloody, drunken row in Denver. The dis
patch closes by saying:
But one or two persons can speak Eng
fish. They are ragged, dirty and spattereC
with blood and dirt, and have the appear
| ance of the lowest type of humanity. They
were sent to Denver week ago, direct from
Hungary, Poland, Bohemia, and other
parts of Europe, and without doubt belong
to that class whose only argument is th'
| dynamite bomb"
Now what will become of these men
| By the laws of our country they will b,
allowed to become American citizens, an(
cast vote that counts for as much as your
or mine. Can you expect purity and reform
while this is allowed? Yet the leaders 0
the Republican party, and Democratic
| party will all try hard to see which can b
| the most successful in getting these yer,
men to vote with their party when they be
come citizens, and then cry purity ant
| REFORM" This is consistency for you. Her
| is the keynote of the entire difficulty Nj
| Field comes far from the " bull's-eye' il
his theory. Never mind the bosses, but re
move that element from politics who cal
| be bossed, who are corrupt and low-lived
and number by the thousands in our cities
and country as well; will sell the mos
sacred right of an American citizen, that c
voting, and sell it early and often 5" for
mere bagatelle. Put the political machin
| y
remove the vicious element, and then w
can hope for reform, unless people still
hold to the successful party, as being NOR
necessary than success of principle an
government.
What will we do with this element
| Why, put them by the side of your wives
and daughters, and sisters. Not quite s
low as this, even. Allow them to vote OIL
conditions. That is to say, let Congress
make law which will be in effect that n
| foreigner shall become citizen until b
can speak the English language intelligi
! bly,. Secondly, that no man shall b
allowed to register until he can pass
| creditable examination as to the principle
| of republican form of government. an,
| upon the Constitution of the United State
and of the State wherein he resides; tha
he can readaud write the English language
and give satisfactory idea of American
| liberty and freedom, and the political ma
chinezy hereunder.
} This will put the Government in til,
hands of intelligent people. and fore,
| ignoraot people to become intelligent, or re
main 8 non voter, neither nat;Ye-born o.
adopted citizen. Then voters will be be
vop1 the rousr of hoSsisro ap5 than nv